This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, offers analysis, commentary, and reportage about the $4.9 billion project to build the Barclays Center arena and 16 high-rise buildings at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group bought a 70% stake in 15 towers. New York State still calls it Atlantic Yards. Contact: AtlanticYardsReport[at]hotmail.com

Monday, December 21, 2009

That's Borough President Marty Markowitz at a media event--as opposed to, say, the much quieter announcement of the lawsuit that helped him raise the money for his new home--in which his favorite developer brought holiday toys to Brooklyn children. To his left is Forest City Ratner's Scott Cantone; to his right is Nets rookie ("star" in the press release) Terrence Williams, in the Santa hat.

At the press conference, Markowitz again invoked the Brooklyn Dodgers. "You're so lucky," he addressed the children. "Brooklyn will be back on the map in the national sports arena." He ended his five-minute address by excitedly saluting the Brooklyn Nets.

The press release

BP MARKOWITZ, NETS STAR TERRENCE WILLIAMS, NETS LEGEND DARRYL DAWKINS DELIVER TOYS TO 60 BROOKLYN CHILDRENOn Monday, December 21, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined NETS player Terrence Williams, NETS legend Darryl Dawkins and The Salvation Army to deliver hundreds of toys to 60 children at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The toys were donated by the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance, which includes a partnership among Barclays, the NETS, and Forest City Ratner Companies. Presented by National Grid, a NETS sponsor, the event provided toys to children who otherwise might not have received any during the holiday season. The Barclays/Nets Community Alliance donated to The Salvation Army more than 1,100 toys for Brooklyn youngsters, and funded children’s holiday parties at each of the five main Salvation Army centers that serve Brooklyn, including in Bay Ridge, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Bushwick and Sunset Park.

“You don’t have to know much about basketball to know that it’s a real ‘slam dunk’ to provide toys for children during the holidays,” said BP Markowitz. “The Nets have really hit a three-pointer with this effort, and I look forward to the day when we can proudly call them the Brooklyn Nets and they become heroes to Brooklyn and New York City sports fans both on and off the hardwood. To the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance, Forest City Ratner, The Salvation Army and National Grid I say ‘bravo!’ for making sure our most vulnerable children remain in the game and at the center court of goodwill and holiday cheer.”

Far be it for us to throw a wet blanket over a little holiday cheer for children who might otherwise have none, but perhaps this explains why the Salvation Army's Travis Lock testified before a board meeting of the Empire State Development Corporation on September 17th, saying "It is my sincere hope this morning that you would move forward with this project, the Atlantic Yard projects, on behalf of the Forest City Ratner Corporation."